The Bay Area has always been a breeding ground for independent artists so it’s fitting that this week's Ear 2 The Streets MC is Northern California rapper, Mikey Mo. Born on the East Coast, Mikey Mo was relocated to the Bay at a fairly young age and it was there that he fell in love with hip-hop.

Through a relentless grind, Mikey Mo made his mixtapes a necessity on the streets and is now becoming a sought after commodity in the business of hip-hop. While there is a lot of competition in the Bay, Mikey Mo is up for the challenge.

He’s made himself a standout amongst a sea of MC’s and it can only get better. Mikey Mo definitely gets the Ear 2 The Streets co-sign so check out what he has to say.

Sup man, what's good?

What up homie? I'm just chillin', gone off some purple right about now. It feels good to still be alive you dig. I’m just out here doing my job making this good music.

So you were born in Queens, when did you move to the Bay?

Yeah I was born in Jamaica Queens and I moved to the Bay in 1988 to San Francisco. I lived all around the Bay then I moved in 1994 to Washington. I been all around ever since. I currently live in San Diego.

When did you get into rapping?

I got into rapping when I moved back to the Bay in 2002. I met some producers out of San Leandro CA and they put me on to this really. They got the ball rolling for me. Shout out to Muse 10. After that 3sixty5 Records liked what I was doing so they put me on. Its been a wrap ever since. Check my website out at mikeymothemc.com. Focused is a classic.
 
Who were some of your musical influences?

My musical influences are A Tribe Called Quest, LL Cool J, Wu Tang Clan, E-40, Snoop Dogg, T.I., Outkast, Dogg Pound, Ice Cube, Nas and a few others. The list is long I love music. 
 
You've been steady grinding on the mixtapes, has that been a big help for your success?

Yo it has been a major success for my album because people respect your street hustle and when it is actually good music they show that support.
 
Hunger Painz 1 and 2 were crazy, did you get a good response from the fans?

Yeah people been showing me so much love off of those mixtapes. I’m recording for Hunger Painz 3 right now. I’m pretty sure everyone who has any of those mixtapes has my album because they know how I get down. You can get any of them at 3sixty5records.com or mikeymothemc.com.
 
Tell us about GYLATEAN.

Gylatean is a group of ill MC's out of Nor Cal. My homie Dap Daniel who is also on 3sixty5 Records added me to the group cause I fit right in. We got the Gylatean mixtape coming next year and possibly a Gylatean album in the near future. We will see. All of us are more focusing on individual success first and then we going to form like Voltron on the whole industry.
 
How would you describe your rap style?

I would describe my rap style as laid back, real shit for you to ride to. 

What is 3sixty5 records and what is your role in the company?

3sixty5 Records is a indie hip-hop label out of the Bay area that is on a mission to bring good hip hop back. My role in the company is to make hot tracks and rip fake peoples faces off. I’m an artist on the label and I do whatever else they need me to do. Shout out to my dude Koncept. He is the CEO of the label.
 
What do you feel you are bringing to the table that the game doesn't already have?

I feel I am bringing originality back because my album isn't on that industry format. Also I’m making music with a message and to help people out. Music that generates emotion. The game doesn’t have that anymore. Its all popcorn and booty shakin' music. I remember growing up the hip-hop that I had as a kid. There are albums that are like soundtracks to certain times in my life. There aren't any albums like that anymore. I’m bringing that back.
 
What was the creative process like for Muffin Man?

(Laughs) Yo my dude Earl gave me that nickname. Every time he called me I was getting some ass so he called me the Muffin Man. So I just decided to make I mixtape on how I like to get ass and what I like to do to it. And the in the end came the muffin man mixtape. I’m probably going to drop part 2 later this year I have had a lot of request for the muffin man.
 
Tell us about Focused.

Focused is really a classic. It is my debut album taking people through my life, the good times and the bad. Its 16 tracks no interludes all cool ass music for you to ride to. If your a hip hop fan it is a must have.
 
Who would you say is the king of the Bay?

I would say E-40 is because he has done the most out of the Bay.
 
What projects do you have coming up that we can look out for?

Look out for Hunger Pains 3 The Great Hunger coming in February. Look out for Dap Daniel's album Rawdiculous coming in 08 and lookout for my next album in August 08. Checkout mikeymothemc.com for updates hit me up on myspace.com/mikeymothemc.

Anything you'd like to say to the fans at Sixshot.com?

Yo thank you so much for checking me out get my album Focused, it’s a classic. I appreciate all of the support everyone is showing me God Bless you all. Sixshot.com thank you very, very much for the interview. 100